HFW partner Richard Neylon has warned shipowners against turning to armed guards as they review their security arrangements, following the recent attacks in Saudi Arabia.

Neylon was actively involved as a lawyer representing shipowners during the Somalia piracy crisis around 2008, when armed guards eventually helped stamp out the problem.

But this time guards not the right answer, he said, speaking at the International Union of Marine Insurance Conference (IUMI) conference in Toronto, following the weekend attacks on a Saudi Arabian oil refinery.